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Hesperocallis spp.
desert lily
Deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico
Overview
Hesperocallis spp. is a genus in the family Asparagaceae represented by a single species, H. undulata, the desert lily of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The plant grows from a deep bulb that can sit 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) below the surface, sending up a cluster of blue-green strap-shaped leaves with crinkled, white-margined edges. After winter rains a stout stem rises 1-4 feet (30-120 cm) and carries several funnel-shaped white flowers, each about 2-2.5 inches (5-6 cm) long, with a silvery-green stripe down the outside of each tepal. The flowers are fragrant, drawing night-flying moths, and open over a few weeks in spring. As the desert dries, the leaves wither and the bulb rests deep underground, sometimes for years between good flowering seasons. The deep bulb and erratic rain-triggered bloom make the plant hard to establish in cultivation.
Native Range
Native to the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of southern California, Arizona, and northwestern Mexico, including Baja California and Sonora. Plants grow on sandy flats, dunes, and desert washes below about 5,000 feet (1,500 m).Suggested Uses
Grown in desert and dry-climate gardens, set deep in sharply drained ground where it can stay dry in summer. The fragrant spring flowers and wavy foliage feature in native desert plantings. The plant suits collectors of geophytes more than general borders, given its rest periods.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Colors
Flower Colors
Foliage Colors
Bloom Information
Flowering follows winter and early spring rains, mainly March to May, and is irregular from year to year. In dry years the bulb may not flower or even leaf out, resting underground until conditions improve. Fragrant flowers open over a few weeks and are visited by moths at dusk.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white with a silvery-green stripeFoliage Description
blue-green with white marginsGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight